Toy catapult



Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY CATAPULT George Virneburg, New York, N. Y.

Application March 29, 1934, Serial No. 717,965

4 Claims.V (Cl. 124-2) This invention relates generally to toys and refers more particularly to a toy catapult for shooting arrows, balls or other equivalent projectiles.

The invention broadly aims to provide atoy catapult which is so constructed and arranged that it may be optionally used in a variety of different ways in order to catapult a number of different types of projectiles therefrom.

The invention further comprehends a toy catapult embodying a handle having means carried by one end thereof which defines a projectile guide and which also affords an anchorage for an elastic sling so as to provide the same with a bight portion for engaging the projectile to catapult the same from the device while engaged by the guide.

More particularly the invention contemplates a toy catapult engaging a frame Vhaving a handle and divergent portions of the frame formed respectively with aligned projectile guides together with an elastic sling anchored to the frame in such a manner as to produce a bight for engaging the projectile and whichv sling, when tensioned, is adapted to catapult the projectile through the guides.

The invention further provides a toy catapult including a continuous frame constituting respectively a sight opening and an opening through which a projectile is adapted to be catapulted, together with an elastic sling and means on the frame for anchoring the sling so as to dispose the same in spanning relation thereto.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a device ofthe indicated character which is comparatively simple in its construction, inexpensive to produce and which provides a highly amusing and attractive toy.

With the above enumerated and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawing in which there has been disclosed, by way of example, several preferred embodiments of the invention, while the claims cover other variations and modiflcations thereof which fallwithin the scope of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the catapult in use and position for shooting a round shafted projectile or arrow.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device equipped with another type of sling for catapulting a ball.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a slightly modifled form of the invention illustrating the same employed for shooting a flat shafted projectile or arrow.

Fig. 4 is a. similar view showing a further modication of the type of sling used and illustrating in full and broken lines several ways in which the sling may be used in connection with the frame..

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the catapult includes a frame member which is designated generally by the reference 10 character A and which, in the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, includes a continuous frame body l which is of generally circular formation but which, within the scope of the invention, may be of any other desiredcon- 15 figuration to define a central opening I I, the axis of which opening extends through the thickness of the frame body. The frame member also includes a handle I 2 which extends radially and preferably in use depends therefrom. The frame body is provided with a plurality of projectile guide means which are designed for selective use with a variety of projectiles of different types such as, for instance, the round shafted arrow B shown in Fig. 1, or the flat shafted arrow C shown in Fig. 3, the guide means for the former being in the form of a substantially semi-circular notch I3 which is disposed in a plane coincident with a plane passing through the handle and which guide notch has its axis parallel to the axis 30 of the opening II, with the notch opening through the inner periphery of the frame body Ill. Another guide means consists of aligned elongated openings I 4 which extend through diametrically opposite portions of the frame body I 0 and the axes of which are preferably disposed perpendicular to a plane passing through the handle I2.

The frame body I 0 is provided with a plurality of means for anchoring elastic slings thereto for the purpose of catapulting the projectiles and which slings may be of various types such as illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 4, by the reference characters D, E and F. The means for anchoring the sling for catapulting the projectile B while engaged in the guide notch I3, consists of a pail' of hooks I5 which are disposed at spa'ced points on the outer periphery of the frame body Ill in a plane substantially in alignment with the guida notch I3. The means for anchoring the sling for catapulting a projectile of the type C shown in Fig. 3, consists of pairs of clips I6 and I'I secured to opposite faces of the frame body I Il with the pairs located respectively adjacent each guide opening I4. As illustrated, the clips di- CTI verge from their anchored ends towards their free ends so that the sling is wedged securely into its anchored relation thereto.

As particularly disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the device is employed for the purpose of catapulting a round shafted arrow designated by the reference character B which arrow has a head I8 and a notched rear terminal I9. The sling D as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is of a braided elastic type having knots 20 at its. oppositel ends which engage with the hooks I to properly anchor the sling in place. In use in this former the Yinvention, the opening I I serves as a sight opening for aiming the projectile at the target.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig, 2, the sling E is of a flat ribbon type with knots 2 I at its opposite ends and in this form the knotted ends 2| are engaged respectively with one clip of each pair or clips I6 and I1 so that thesling is disposed in spanning relation to the frameY body Ill and the bight portion 22 has secured thereto a projectile seat 23 which is especially designed to accommodate a ball or sphericalprojectile which is catapulted'through the opening I I and which is also employed as a sight 'for aiming the projectile at a target.

1n the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, the frame member which is identie'd'gen erally by the reference character G 'includes a body of a non-continuous type providingdivergent furcations or arms l24 and `25fconnected with the handle 26. and except for the fact that the body in this form is non-continuous the saine is identicalwith the frames ofthe other form roi the invention.

VWhere it is desired to use a sling in the form of a continuous elastic band as illustrated at F in Fig. 4, it is essential when using the samefor shooting a projectile, while guided by the guide notch I3 of the frame member, to dispose the anchored portion in a non-interfering relation to the guide I3 and the projectile which is guided thereby, hence the handle I2 is provided with a stud 27 which is arranged below the` guide notch I3, andwithwhich the anchored portion of the sling is engaged as clearly illustrated. in'Fig. 4, Furthermore, where the form F of vthe sling` is to be used for catapulting a projectile while guided by the guide openings lll, the sling may be engaged transversely around the frame body I0 and seated in the pairs of clips I6 and' I'I as shown in broken lines. Obviously, if the sling of the type 2IF is used for catapulting a ball or spherical projectile through the opening II in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the unused anchored portion of the elastic band, after being engaged with one clip of each pair of clips I6 and I1 is engaged under the stud 2'I.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that a toy catapult has been devised which is capable of use in various ways for catapulting projectiles of varying types, while employing slings of dierent constructions.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy catapult including a handle, a frame carried by the handle having upwardly extending divergent portions, aligned projectile guides formed respectively in said divergent portions and disposed substantially equidistantly forwardly` and rearwardly of the handle, an elastic sling anchored to the frame on opposite sides of one of. the divergent portions and having a bight engageablewith a projectile and operable when the sling is tensioned to 'catapult the 'projectile through the guides.

2. A toy catapult including a handle and a continuous frame deiining a combined sight and projectile opening and having-a notch in the inner 'edge located in alignment with the handle and constituting a projectile guide, an elastic band, and means on the frame for anchoring the band thereto so as tol dispose the rear portion ofthe same in spanning relation to the notched portionof'the frame and the forward Yportion of the band vin anv out oi the way position below saidA notched portion of the frame.

'3. A toy catapult comprising a frame having a plurality of projectile guide means for optional use, an elastic sling, and a plurality of means for anchoring the sling tothe frame for selectively projecting a projectile from the frame while engaging one of said guide means.

4'. A toy catapult comprising a frame having a plurality of guide means for optionally shootingA a projectile from the frame in the line or its axis or perpendicular thereto, an elastic sling, and a plurality of means for anchoring the sling to thev frame for selectively catapulting the projectile from the frame while engagingl one of said guide means.

' GEORGE VIRNEBURG. 

